Terriers Set to Visit Marist Saturday
December 11, 2009 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 11, 2009
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BOSTON - Before entering an extended break for exams, the Boston University men's basketball team visits Marist on Saturday with the contest set for a 2 p.m. tip-off. Coming off a 63-53 win over Bucknell, the Terriers (3-6) will square off with the Red Foxes (0-6) of the MAAC in the fourth-ever meeting between the two schools and first since 1985.
Fans in the Hudson Valley can watch the game on Time Warner Cable 6, while those outside the area can view the game online here or listen on WWZN 1510-AM.
BU leads the all-time series, 2-1. In 1980, a Rick Pitino-led squad earned a 117-94 win en route to a 21-9 record and the program's first-ever trip to the NIT. Marist won the next meeting, 51-45, in 1984, but the Terriers came back the following year on the road with an 96-68 win.
Offensively, this year's Terriers have four men scoring in double figures, led by the America East scoring leader John Holland, who is averaging 19 points per game and currently holds the sixth longest NCAA Division I active streak for consecutive games in double figures at 27. Corey Lowe is second on the team at 13.4 ppg with Jake O'Brien (12.6 ppg) and Tyler Morris (10.6 ppg) close behind. Carlos Strong is fifth at 7.4 ppg but has recorded more than 10 four times this season, including all 11 of his points in the final 5:25 in regulation against Bucknell.
On the defensive end, the Terriers' top rebounding performance of the season still remains the Indiana game in which they out-rebounded the Hoosiers, 52-32, for the victory. This past Sunday, they held Bucknell to just 16 points in the first half and a 19.2 field goal shooting percentage en route to a 63-53 victory. Morris tied a career high in steals with five, while O'Brien recorded two blocks for the fourth straight game. Overall, Holland is third in the conference for steals at 2.0 spg and is tied-for-fifth in rebounding at 6.3 rpg.
Though they have already played six games that included two other America East opponents, Marist will play its home opener on Saturday. Returning just two starters from last year, the Red Foxes opened the season with a seven-point loss at Rutgers (74-67) and then later fell at Hartford (75-38) and New Hampshire (72-58). Last Sunday, they fell to Rider, an earlier winner over the SEC's Mississippi State, by four points, 55-51.
Freshman guard Candon Rusin leads Marist in scoring at 9.3 ppg with junior guard Dave Kaba in second at 9.2 ppg and a team-leading 6.6 rpg. While the Terriers have four men averaging over 30 minutes a game with a fifth at 28 mpg, the Red Foxes have none with Russin the closest at 27.3 mpg.
Saturday's contest marks the second for the Terriers against a MAAC opponent this season. Holding a 59-38 all-time record against the league, the Terriers opened the year at Iona, falling 82-73. Last season, BU earned home wins over St. Peter's and the Gaels.
After the contest and completing the final exams, the Terriers will host the preseason Northeast Conference favorite Mount St. Mary's on Tuesday, Dec. 22 at 7 p.m.
